HDFC Bank Ltd. Company History and Annual Growth Details

1994- The Bank was Incorporated on 30th August. A new private sector Bank promoted by housing Development Corporation Ltd. (HDFC), a premier housing finance company. The bank is the first of its kind to receive an in-principle approval from the RBI for establishment of a bank inthe private sector. Certificate of Commencement of Business was received on 10th October 1994 from RBI.

- The Bank transacts both traditional commercial banking as well as investment banking. HDFC, the promoter of the bank has entered into an agreement with National Westminister Bank Pc. and its subsidiaries (Natwest Group) for subscribing 20% of the banks issued capital and providing technical assistance in relation to the banks proposed banking business.

1995

- 70 No. of equity shares issued to subscribers to the Memorandum & Articles of Association on 30th August 1994. On the same date 500,00,000 equity shares were allotted to HDFC promoters. 509,20,000 shares were allotted to HDFC Employees Welfare Trust and HDFC Bank Employees Welfare Trust on 22nd December, 1994.

- On 16.1.1995, 90,79,930 No. of equity shares were allotted to Jarrington Pte. Ltd. Another 400,00,000 equity shares were allotted on private placement basis to Natwest Group on 9.5.1995. 500,00,000 shares were allotted to the public on 9.5.95 (all were taken up).

- The Bank opened its first branch in Ramon House at Churchgate, Mumbai on January 16th.

- The Bank has created an efficient operating system using well tested state-of-the-art software.

1996

- HDFC Bank has entered the banking consortia of over 50 corporates, including some leading multinational companies, flagship companies of local business houses and strong public sector companies.

- HDFC Bank has set up a state-of-the-art dealing room to handle all transactions possible in Indian financial markets.

- The Certificates of Deposits were awarded a PP1+ rating which is the highest rating for short term instruments indicating superior capacity for repayment.

1997

- The bank is one of the largest mobilisers of retail deposits through its network of 20 branches. Its credit deposits ratio was 53.8%.

- The bank has set up a ultra-modern hub at Powai in Mumbai where the bank's central computer is housed. This hub housed in 35,000 square feet of space, houses data of all the branches and facilitates the introduction of new products and services.

- HDFC has installed state-of-the-art systems to facilitate inter-connectivity between branches and link up with on line system.

- The bank has also recently signed up as a depository participant, under the newly set up NSDL, wherein the members clearing accounts settlement for dematerialised shares can be done through the bank.

- HDFC Bank, one of the nine new-generation private sector banks, has planned to set up an all-India on-line automated teller machine (ATM) network.

- HDFC Bank proposed to launch tele-banking for the first time in June in Mumbai at its Chandiveli branch.

- HDFC Bank has drawn up plans to become a niche player in corporate banking by sticking to top-rung corporates.

- HDFC Bank has become the first private sector bank to conclude a structured interest rate option deal.

- HDFC Bank has launched its Versova branch, the 11th branch in Mumbai.

- HDFC Bank, as part of its expansion plans in the South, has opened another branch in Chennai.

- HDFC Bank has entered into strategic alliances with 10 overseas banks to provide customers with a wide range of derivatives including interest rate and foreign currency swaps.

- HDFC Bank on October 14 introduced ATMs that converse in a regional language.

- HDFC Bank has introduced the Freedom Account for the average retail customer located in the major metros as a means to wean away the middle-income market from nationalised banks.

- HDFC Bank has launched an account in all its 28 branches across India that seeks to free depositors from minimum balance requirement, for the first time in the country.

- HDFC has introduced a new loan product for the payment of betterment fees announced by the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike.

- HDFC Bank is all set to launch its debit card by April 1998.

1998

- HDFC Bank has tied up with the Ahmedabad Stock Exchange (ASE) to act as its clearing bank.

- HDFC Bank proposes to strengthen its branch network in Calcutta with the addition of two new branches in the first quarter of the next fiscal.

- HDFC Bank has signed an agreement with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which will give it a second charge over the brokers deposit for providing loan against share facility to NSE brokers.

- The bank has also entered into a similar understanding with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) whereby the bourse will provide support for recovery of money against the card for loan against share facility.

- The bank has also entered into `Cirrus' arrangements by which all master card holders across the globe will be able to transact at HDFC Bank in India.

- The bank will also provide phone-banking facility in Bangalore. HDFC has tied up with Visa International to offer its Debit Card.

- HDFC Bank Ltd has entered into a memorandum of understanding for a strategic business collaboration with Chase Manhattan Bank.

- HDFC Bank has become the first bank in India to link up its automated teller machine (ATM) network with all the three major payment systems world-wide.

- HDFC Bank will be the first bank in the Asia-Pacific region to connect the American Express (Amex) payment system.

- The HDFC Bank is expanding its ATM network to connect to American Express Interchange based in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. With this connectivity, HDFC Bank has become the first bank in the Asia-pacific region to connect to the Amex Interchange.

- HDFC Bank was the first to sign up with AMEX in December of 1998.

- The Bank has tied up with ITC Threadneedle Mutual Fund to provide its investors with the High Interest Fund (HIF), a facility to encash their units through the bank's Automated Teller Machines in addition to a cheque book facility also to be provided by the bank.

- Sony India Ltd (SIL) has joined hands with HDFC Bank to work out an innovative car finance package under which a sony car audio system would be installed to a new car for no additional upfront cash outflow.

- The bank has decided to issue 1,33,10,000 equity shares of Rs. 10 each to HDFC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of it at a price of Rs. 94 per share.

- The bank will also issue 13,70,000 equity shares to India Private Equity Fund and 51,20,000 shares to Indocean Financial Holding, the two equity funds controlled by Chase Manhattan Bank.

- The Bank latter also entered into a partnership agreement with National Computer Systems, the e-commerce unit of Singtel.

- A new company called SESAMi.com (India) has been formed by a strategic alliance between HDFC Bank and Singapore Telecom's e-commerce company SESAMi.com, to offer e-commerce solutions for the Indian market.

- HDFC Bank has a tie-up with Maxtouch for giving the facility to the latter's customers in Mumbai. This is the first and only service of this sort in the country, he said.

- HDFC Bank is also launching an online electronic banking solution called Enet which will allow corporates to access their accounts over the net and carry out trade related transactions and cash management functions.

- HDFC Bank entered into a tie-up with Telco by which the bank would provide preferential financing options for Tata's range of passenger cars including the Indica, Sumo, Safari, Estate and Sierra.

- HDFC Bank allotted 1.98 crore shares of Rs 10 each at an issue price of Rs 94 per share to promoters and strategic investors on March 29.

- HDFC Bank is also set to become the first bank in the country to offer wireless application protocol (WAP) services to customers.

- SkyCell Communications Ltd, one of the two cellular service providers in Chennai, has launched `Sky Banking', for which the company has tied up with ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank.

- The bank has tied up with 12 utility companies nationwide including BSES, MSEB, BEST, Orange, BPL and MTNL.

- The Bank has tied up with financial portals, e-brokerages and the National Stock Exchange to enable broker payments for e-broking ventures.

- The Bank has set up 100 new electronic data capture (EDC) terminals in Mumbai.

- HDFC Bank has launched its first B2C payment gateway which allows Visa and MasterCard credit card-holders to do transaction online and realtime.

- CYBERITMALL.COM has joined hands with HDFC Bank to provide VISA/MasterCard users with an online payment gateway solution to enable them to have a secure eshopping experience.

- HDFC Bank plans to extend its mobilephone banking services introduced in select metros to mobilephone broking when it introduces its Internet on-line trading in July.

- HDFC Bank and portal clickforsteel.com have signed a memorandum of understanding for offering online credit and services to facilitate `post transaction' activities through the portal's `allied services providers' programme.

- Indianfoline.com signed an agreement with HDFC bank for the use of payment gateway to enable online financial transactions.

- The Company has introduced a new scheme whereby it will provide loans to individuals for payment of self assessment tax on their properties in Bangalore.

- The Foreign Investment Promotion Board has cleared the proposal of the HDFC Group to enter into a joint venture with Singapore Telecom's e-commerce company for providing a comprehensive range of business-to-business e-commerce solutions to companies in India.

- The Company proposes to pick up an equity stake in Softcell Trade and Technologies Ltd., a Mumbai-based software company.

- BPL Mobile has tied up with HDFC Bank to offer Internet banking through the mobile phone.

- The Bank proposes to acquire up to 24.5 per cent stake in the MIEL e-Security Pvt. Ltd., which is engaged in the business of developing and marketing of security products and services for a range of e-commerce and enterprises security applications.

- The Bank has tied up with Rajan Raheja-owned Hathway for providing banking at home as part of the Net-over-cable initiative of the latter in Mumbai.

- HDFC Bank launched its on-line bill payment facility in alliance with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board has also begun to offer bridge loans against fixed deposits of parent Housing Development Finance Corporation the financial institution.

- HDFC Bank has tied up with portal brainvisa.com to retail education loans to students.

- The Gujarat Cellular operator Fascel, has signed up with the HDFC Bank to introduce mobile commerce for the first time in the State.

- HDFC Bank has tied up with BPL Mobile for mobile commerce facility.

- CricketNext.com, a sports e-commerce site has tied up with HDFC Bank to provide an on-line payment gateways and marketing opportunities for a wide range of cricket sports gear on its on-line shop BatNext.

- Singapore-based Growasia.com has entered into an understanding with HDFC Bank and credit rating agency Icra, for picking up equity in the company's Indian subsidiary Gasia.com.

- The Chatterjee Group-promoted Captech Online Ltd. has signed memorandum of understanding with HDFC Bank and UTI Bank for setting up a payment gateway for its debt negotiation platform, Riskxpress.com.

- HDFC Securities Ltd., promoted by the HDFC group with equity participation from the Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd., HDFC Bank and Chase Capital Partners, has launched its brokerage services for retail investors in the Capital.

- The HDFC Bank and Airtel launched their mobile-banking service through WAP in Delhi.

- HDFC Bank Ltd has informed BSE that Mr Deepak Satwalekar has submitted his resignation as Director of the Bank. The Board of Directors has accepted the same. The Board of Directors has co-opted Mrs Renu Karnad as Additional Director of the Bank.

- Mrs. Renu Karnad has been co-opted as an Additional Director of the Bank. Mrs Karnad shall represent the promoters of the bank i.e. HDFC Ltd. Also Mr. Deepak Satwalekar, Managing Director of HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company Ltd, has been on the Board of the Bank as nominee of HDFC Ltd since September 12, 1994 and shall complete the period of 8 yrs before the next scheduled board meeting. In view of the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Mr. Satwalekar has submitted his resignation as Director of the Bank and the Board has accepted the same.

- HDFC Bank launched new products to its wealth management programme to increase its customer base. The bank introduced a non-interactive product named "Financial Planner", which would be available for all its customers for an annual fee starting from Rs 10,000. The bank is offering fee based advisory programme to the "mass affluent" segment, which was earlier offered to high net worth customers. The wealth management programme would cater to individual needs taking into account various factors such as customer's age, financial goals and risk profile, which includes equity, MFs and debt instruments such as RBI Relief Bonds.

- Orange JV with HDFC Bank.

2003

- HDFC Bank unveils resident foreign currency account.

- HDFC Bank unveils co-branded credit card with e-Seva.

- The Board of Directors of HDFC Bank Ltd at their meeting held on January 15, 2003 approved the appointment of Mr. Arvind Pande as an Additional Director pursuant to section 260 of the Companies Act, 1956.

-Mumbai - HDFC Bank in collaboration with Tally Solutions is planning to launch electronic data interchange (EDI) system for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

-Warburg Pincus sells 2% stake in HDFC for Rs 235 cr

- HDFC Bank began selling home loans of its promoter Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC).

-Board approved to allot 4,16,400 equity shares to the employees of the Bank under the Employee Stock Option Scheme

2004

-Mr Ranjan Kapur & Mr Bobby Parikh appointed as Additional Directors

-NMCE inks pact with HDFC Bank for warehouse receipts

- HDFC Bank has entered into an alliance with Clearing Corporation of India Ltd (CCIL). The tie-up offers the latter's collateral borrowing and lending obligation (CBLO) product to cooperative banks that are not direct members of the negotiated dealing system (NDS).

-HDFC Bank repurchases HDFC loans worth Rs 208 cr

-Launches Quickremit, a unique online service that enables NRIs in the US to send money to their relatives in India from the comfort of their homes.

-Andhra Bank has entered into an alliance with HDFC Bank for sharing its network of automated teller machines (ATMs). On March 29, 2004

- HDFC Bank and Bahraini Saudi Bank (BSB) have announced an alliance to cater to service the needs of the non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Bahrain.

- HDFC bank Ltd has informed that Dr (Mrs) Amla Samanta has ceased to be a director of the Bank wef April 25, 2004.

- HDFC Bank launches new scheme for Maruti 800 buyers, providing 85 per cent finance on the on-road price of the car for seven years.

-HDFC Bank wins Asiamoney award for Best Domestic Bank

-HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri has been awarded the management man of the year by the Bombay Management Association (BMA)

-HDFC Bank has entered into an agreement with Shrachi Securities Ltd, the flagship company of the Kolkata-based Rs 300-crore Shrachi Group, for financing of multi-utility vehicles all over India

-HDFC Bank has launched an online bill payment facility for its customers who are also subscribers to Tata Teleservices

- IKF Finance Ltd has entered in to a Joint Lending Arrangement with HDFC Bank Ltd

2005

-TMB forges alliance with HDFC Bank

-HDFC Bank inaugurates first ATM in Hotel

- HDFC Bank ties up with the International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) to launch banking services in Qatar.

- HDFC Bank launches loyalty rewards programme for its debit and credit cardholders under the name InstaWonderz.

-HDFC Bank along with MasterCard International launched credit card targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises

-HDFC Bank has tied up with US-based WL Ross and company LLC for investing in corporate restructuring

-HDFC Bank unveils credit card for farmers

2006

-HDFC sets up two more branches in AP

- Osim to join hands with HDFC Bank for consumer loans

- HDFC Bank inaugurates VbV facility for online shopping

- HDFC sets up two more branches in AP

2007

-HDFC Bank has signed an agreement with Tata Pipes to offer credit facilities to farmers across the country.

-Hdfc Bank Ltd has appointed Mr. Pandit Palande as an additional Director of the Bank at the Board Meeting held today i.e. on 24th April 2007.

- HDFC Bank Ltd has informed that the Board of Directors of the Bank at its meeting held on October 12, 2007, has been appointed Mr. Paresh Sukthankar & Mr. Harish Engineer as Executive Directors on the Board of Directors of the bank. Mr. Sukthankar & Mr. Engineer have been senior employees of the Bank since 1994 and have held various positions of responsibility.

The above appointments as Executive Directors of the Bank are subject to approval of Reserve Bank of India and of the Bank's shareholders.

- With a view to attract long term deposits and prevent premature withdrawal when the interest rates peak, HDFC, the housing finance major, has decided to pay variable interest rate on recurring deposits.

- HDFC Bank on Feb 19 increased the fixed deposit rates by up to 150 basis points across maturities, a move that follows the Cash Reserve Ratio hike of 75 basis points by the Reserve Bank of India last month.

- HDFC rolls out systematic savings plan with variable interest rates

- HDFC Bank replaces ICICI as Number 1 private retail bank in India

- HDFC ties up with UAE bank for online remittances

-HDFC Bank approved the appointment of Mr. C. M. Vasudev, who is a Director of the Bank, as Non Executive Chairman of the Bank on a part time basis for a period of three years effective July 06, 2010 in replace of Mr. Jagdish Capoor retires from his services on the same date.

- HDFC Bank plan to add 250 new branches to its network over next 2 years.

2011

- HDFC Bank looking at 3G services to boost mobile banking share.

- The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC), one of the largest private sector banks in India, which had a network of 1,725 branches as at March 2010, opened 275 new branches in the current fiscal. The bank now has a total network of 2,000 branches spread across 1,000 cities. The bank also acquired Centurion Bank of Punjab in 2008, which adds around 404 branches to its network.

- The Asian Banker magazine has declared that the strongest bank in Asia Pacific region is HDFC

- India's private banking major ,HDFC Bank has launched its new credit card offeringcalled Infinia in direct competition with global credit card major ,American Express(Amex) .The new HDFC product is exclusively for the bank's high net worth and super rich clients in the country.

-Company has splits its Face value of Shares from Rs 10 to Rs 2

2012

- The third-largest US lender by assets, Citigroup Inc has sold its complete 9.85 per cent stake in Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (HDFC) for USD 1.9 billion.

- HDFC Bank which is a major Indian financial services company based in Mumbai stated that they have collaborated with Punjab Grains Procurement Corporation Ltd (PUNGRAIN) with an aim to make easy and faster payment to its agents who are dealing in agricultural products in about 350 mandis in Punjab.

2016-HDFC Bank plans to open about 500 new branches this financial year.-HDFC Bank has launched a digital bank for its small andmedium enterprises (SME) customers.-HDFC Bank tops in Institutional Investor magazine ranking.-HDFC Bank has signed an MoU with Bihar State Power Holding Company to enable residents pay electricity bill online.